Happy with U-verse; not happy with wireless receivers and hideious phone computer

Hi, moved over from cable to U-verse. I am very happy when the service works. Picture quality is great, and the whole house DVR an added bonus. I have one "problem" child on the wireless remote. I am on the third replacement in the main area and the symptoms are the same: Watch for a couple hours: solid Then the picture will start to flash black-TV picture-black then eventual solid black. Reboot, start over ... couple of hours: solid (repeat). I have a wireless remote in my bedroom: rock solid. The problem child has no RF interference: no microwave, no cordless phone, RG is in the next room. The wireless transceiver is in plain sight and about 20 feet (no walls -- clear path). Yet, this issue remains. Call 1.800.ATT.2020 and put up with that pathetic, hideous, and painful interface that adds insult to injury that I can look on line. Once AT&T techs come on -- again, great customer service. That computer is a PO S and should be an easier interface to talk with a live human being. As I wrote, I really am impressed when the system works. However, baseball season starts next week. I don't want to have a reboot, nor do I want to reboot prior to a game. Is/are there "hard-wired" receivers? I have asked for them in the past and everything has been replaced: RG, wireless receivers, gateway ... Technician is coming tonight. If this does not solve the issue, I must abandoned and go to either satellite or (gasp) cable. while this is more of a rant; suggestions welcome.

Re: Happy with U-verse; not happy with wireless receivers and hideious phone computer

Hi, moved over from cable to U-verse. I am very happy when the service works. Picture quality is great, and the whole house DVR an added bonus. I have one "problem" child on the wireless remote. I am on the third replacement in the main area and the symptoms are the same: Watch for a couple hours: solid Then the picture will start to flash black-TV picture-black then eventual solid black. Reboot, start over ... couple of hours: solid (repeat). I have a wireless remote in my bedroom: rock solid. The problem child has no RF interference: no microwave, no cordless phone, RG is in the next room. The wireless transceiver is in plain sight and about 20 feet (no walls -- clear path). Yet, this issue remains. Call 1.800.ATT.2020 and put up with that pathetic, hideous, and painful interface that adds insult to injury that I can look on line. Once AT&T techs come on -- again, great customer service. That computer is a PO S and should be an easier interface to talk with a live human being. As I wrote, I really am impressed when the system works. However, baseball season starts next week. I don't want to have a reboot, nor do I want to reboot prior to a game. Is/are there "hard-wired" receivers? I have asked for them in the past and everything has been replaced: RG, wireless receivers, gateway ... Technician is coming tonight. If this does not solve the issue, I must abandoned and go to either satellite or (gasp) cable. while this is more of a rant; suggestions welcome.

Yes there are "hardwired" receivers (STB). They are fed by either COAX(cable) or CAT5(ethernet) from the RG. They are probably shortcutting a lot of installations now that they have these wireless STBs because they don't have to run any wires.

You can check the back of the wireless STB, if it has an Ethernet or COAX connection you might be able to hardwire it yourself temporarily to see if the problem goes away. If it does solve the problem, then you can make the wiring permanent (route the wire through basement or attic, tuck down between baseboard and carpet, etc.) as well as getting the wireless STB swapped out for a standard STB, which should reduce the equipment rental fee by a few bucks a month.

__________________________________________________________How can you be in two places at once, when your not anywhere at all?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I really want to become a procrastinator, but I keep putting it off.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------There are three kinds of people, those that can count, and those that can't.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and our politicians take advantage of this prejudice by pretending to be even more stupid than nature has made them." :Bertrand Russell

Re: Happy with U-verse; not happy with wireless receivers and hideious phone computer

There is COAX available from the cable days. Yes, I understand AT&T doesn't want to run wires; but I as a customer the three (and today will be the fourth) visits to the house, it would have been less expensive to run or use existing cable. I can run an ethernet to the box, too.

Re: Happy with U-verse; not happy with wireless receivers and hideious phone computer

BeeBeeSA asked: ~Ask the tech to hard wire it since you have so many issues?~

I have been since the install in February! I have requested it to be "hard wired" but was told the wireless is the best option. The wireless in my bedroom has been flawless. While that points to RF interference, there is "nothing" that can cause interference around the receiver: no microwave, cordless phone, the RG, nor neighbor's house. I am on a big lot and next door is about 75 foot to the house.

Re: Happy with U-verse; not happy with wireless receivers and hideious phone computer

Hi Texas Guy, I can do composite as requested. The technician wil be over this afternoon at 4 p.m. Pacific.

I have a Samsung 43" 1080p plasma TV 450.

If that is an HDTV, you will want to do component cables (red, green, blue) as opposed to composite (red, white, yellow). The component cables will transmit an HD picture. The composite cables will not.

Re: Happy with U-verse; not happy with wireless receivers and hideious phone computer

BeeBeeSA asked: ~Ask the tech to hard wire it since you have so many issues?~

I have been since the install in February! I have requested it to be "hard wired" but was told the wireless is the best option. The wireless in my bedroom has been flawless. While that points to RF interference, there is "nothing" that can cause interference around the receiver: no microwave, cordless phone, the RG, nor neighbor's house. I am on a big lot and next door is about 75 foot to the house.

Re: Happy with U-verse; not happy with wireless receivers and hideious phone computer

@chris92071 wrote:BeeBeeSA asked: ~Ask the tech to hard wire it since you have so many issues?~

I have been since the install in February! I have requested it to be "hard wired" but was told the wireless is the best option. The wireless in my bedroom has been flawless. While that points to RF interference, there is "nothing" that can cause interference around the receiver: no microwave, cordless phone, the RG, nor neighbor's house. I am on a big lot and next door is about 75 foot to the house.

Yep for the installer!! I would not let him/her leave until it is connected via hardwire. They might try to pull the "I'm going to have to charge you" routine but you can always call customer service and request a refund due to your issues. Tell CS this corrected your problem with "their" equipment.

Re: Happy with U-verse; not happy with wireless receivers and hideious phone computer

Not a Samsung, it is a Vizio; and in both cases in non-U-verse modes (Roku for Amazon and Netflix) they have not had an issue. The bedroom wireless receiver has not dropped a picture from day one. The ration to watching on the Samsung is about the same. Meaning 50 percent on the Samsung and 50 percent on the Vizio.

Re: Happy with U-verse; not happy with wireless receivers and hideious phone computer

Thanks for the info. There was a reason that I asked about the brand of TV. Some have reported issues with the wireless receivers. When I ask about the brand of TV, Samsung is frequently mentioned. I wonder if there is a compatibility issue with some brands of TV and the Cisco wireless receiver.

I read on the U-verse Facebook page that there are some known issues with the wireless receiver and that a firmware update is being developed. No ETA was given for the release of the update.